A black lung diagnosis is devastating to not only the victim but also their family members. The news creates an uncertain future not only professionally but also personally. While medical advances have been made over the years, the tragic outcome will, at some point,...
Black Lung
Black lung compensation remains an uphill battle
Countless coal miners who have plied their trade underground over several decades find that the next chapter following the end of their careers is spent battling a deadly illness. Options exist to secure compensation, but the road to that goal is long. Consider them...
Are cases of black lung disease increasing?
To date, no cure exists for black lung, an irreversible disease that can progress long after hard-working coal miners have retired. Medical advances continue, but can it keep up with a concerning resurgence of this deadly illness once thought to be almost eliminated...
What to know about the Black Lung Benefits Act
Coal miners suffering from black lung disease have options when it comes to federal workers’ compensation benefits. To date, the disease lacks a cure. However, medical treatments exist to prolong the lives of those suffering from these severe illnesses. Advancements...
Coal miners and COVID-19
As COVID-19 began to spread across the United States last year, one of the first strategies was to ensure the safety of the most vulnerable. The elderly, particularly those in nursing homes, became top priorities for protection, as were those suffering from severe...
Coal workers continue to face dangers
In spite of nationwide efforts to increase safety while reducing the inhalation of coal dust, black lung, formally known as coal worker’s pneumoconiosis, has made a resurgence in the past several years. Even the powerful Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s...
Confusion continues in commitment to keep coal miners safe
The breathing in of silica dust – also referred to as quartz – has resulted in countless diagnoses of black lung. For those coalminers in Central Appalachia who have plied their trade 25 years or more, twenty percent of them suffer from the deadly disease. Dust is not...
Taking action on behalf of black lung victims
Black lung disease is on the rise in Central Appalachia. Hard-working miners who, over years or decades, inhaled coal dust are now suffering from the consequences of their efforts. Far too many are diagnosed with black lung disease. Surviving family members already...
Is physician bias playing a role in black lung diagnoses?
The diagnosis of black lung disease is a devastating and life-changing moment. Doctors with particular expertise in this severe illness known what to look for when reviewing x-rays. Conveying that information to coal miners and family members must be done immediately,...
What treatment is covered under the Black Lung Program?
Almost every coal miner in Virginia has heard of the danger of Black Lung disease. Many might know someone with the disease or suspect they have it as well. And, unfortunately, reports seem to indicate that the disease is once again on the rise. It is no secret that...